Movement-plates for timepieces



July 11, 1933. J. R. PUTNAM 1,918,057

MOVEMENT PLATES FOR TIMEPIECES Filed Feb. 26, 1932 Patented July 11, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES R. PUTNAM, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR- TO WATERBURY CLOCK COMPANY, OF WATERBUBY, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION MOVEMENT-PLATES FOR TIMEPIECES Application filed February 2 My invention relates to an improvement in movement-plates for timepieces, such as clocks and watches, the object being to effeet a great reduction in the cost of the production of timepieces in the matter of cost of tools, number of parts, and assemblance, as Well as in simplifying matters of attention and repair.

With these and other ends in view, my

invention consists in movement-plates for timepieces, each of the plates being provided with integral spacing-arms taking the place of the independent spacing pillars usually employed.

My invention further consists in movement-plates for timepieces having certain details of construction and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view showing duplicate movement-plates placed side by side and ready to be combined;

Fig. 2 is an edge view of one of the plates;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a movement provided with my improved lates and showing one plate rotated wit respect to the other, so as to carry their respective integral.

spacing-arms out of line, the fasteningfingers of the spacing-arms of the back-plate being shown as passed through the assembling-slots of the front plate and twisted for positively connecting the two plates; Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the '35 assembled movement as shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a broken sectional view on the line 5-5 of "rig. 3, enlarged;

Fig. 6 is a similar view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3; and 4 Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the two movementplates.

In carrying out my invention, I employ two movement-plates 10 and 11, which as shown are duplicates of each other so far as 4 peripheral outline is concerned, but differently punched as required for adapting them to beused as front and, back movementplates. As shown, the plate 10 is the back movement-plate and the plate 11 is the front movement-plate. These two plates are pro- 6, 1932. Serial No. 595,266.

vided with similar correspongingly-located integral spacing-arms bent at a right angle to their planes in the same direction, the back movement-plate 10 having arms 12-12 and the front movement-plate 11 having cor- 56 responding arms 13-13. The spacing-arms are thus divided half and half, so to speak, between the two plates. The arms 12-12 of the back movement-plate 10 are provided with integral fastening-fingers 14:, while the corresponding arms 13-13 of the front plate'll have similar integral fastening-fingers 15.

Inasmuch as the two plates 10. and 11 are identical in peripheral outline and also iden- 66 tical in the location of their spacing-arms, and as they must be placed face to face for their combination, they must be rotated about a quarter-turn with respect to each other for the clearance of their spacingarms, asclearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4; otherwise the spacing-arms would collide. The back-plate 10 is provided with assembling-slots 16-16 for the reception of the fastening-fingers 15 of the spacing-arms '15 13-13 of the front plate 11, while the said front-plate 11 is provided with assemblingslots 17-17 for the reception of the fastening-fingers 14 of the spacing-arms 12-12 of the back-plate 10. The assembling-slots 16-16 and 17-17 are located opposite each other at a right angle to a line passing through the arms 12-12 and 13-13, so that any tendency of the arms 12-12 to spring is neutralized by the arms 13-13, and vice 35 versa. Therefore, when the two plates are fastened together, they are rigid as to lateral movement, one set of arms opposing the other.

In combining the plates, their inner faces 18 and 19 are placed in opposition, after which one plate is rotated with respect to the other, to bring the said pairs of spacingarms and their fastening-fingers and the pairs of assembling-slots into registration, .5 as indicated in Fig. 3, after which the projecting ends of the fastening-fingers are twisted slightly, as shown in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, whereby the two plates are permanently connected. Previous to this, of

course, the several elements of the movement-traln have been installed upon one or the other of the two plates. As the two plates are thus combined, the two spacingarms of one plate and the two spacing-arms of the other plate are located approximately in quartering positions and take the place of the four pillars commonly employed in combining the front and back movement-plates of timepieces.

As the two plates shown are identical as blanked out, both as to peripheral outline and the location of their spacing-arms, only one set of dies is required, and hence the initial cost of one set of dies is saved, as well as the cost or" their maintenance. Furthermore, a marked saving is made, with an increase of stability, by employing integral spacing-arms, instead of pillars, since the number of parts and operations is reduced. Also, there is a speeding-up of the assembling operation. Inasmuch as the spacingarms are integral, there is no chance of displacement or of getting loose, as is apt to take place with the customary pillarconstruction.

It is not necessary that the plates have the same peripheral outline, though that enables the use of only one set of dies and the saving in expense, but whatever the peripheral outline of the plates, their spacing-arms must be divided between the two plates and arranged to act in opposition to each other when the two plates are fastened together. If desired, furthermore, each plate might have more than two spacing-arms, but in any case the spacing-arms must be divided between the two plates, instead of being located entirely upon one of the plates, as has heretofore been, done.

1 would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such departures therefrom as fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. Front and back movement-plates for timepieces, each provided with integral spacing-arms bent at a right angle to their planes, and similarly placed upon the two plates, one of which must be rotated with respect to the other to bring their arms out of line for clearance when the plates are fastened together and each plate being adapted to receive the outer ends of the integral spacing-arms of the other plate, whereby, on account of the arms being integral with their respective plates, the movement-structure is increased in rigidity.

2. Duplicate movement-plates for timepieces, the said plates being alike in peripheral contour and each having a corresponding number. of spacingarms bent up at an angle to their planes, and each plate being adapted for the reception of the outer ends of the integral spacing-arms of the outer plate whereby one plate must be rotated with respect to the other in fastening them together, for the clearance of their respective arms in assembling and fastening them together, and whereby the same dies may be used in making both plates.

3. Duplicate movement-plates for timepieces, the said plates being alike in peripheral contour and each having a corresponding number of spacing-arms bent up at an angle to their planes and formed at their ends with fastening-fingers, whereby one plate must be rotated with respect to the other for the clearance of their arms in fas- 100 tening them together, and the respective plates being formed with assembling-means for the reception of the fastening-fingers at the ends of the spacing-arms of the complementary plate, whereby the two plates are formed in the same dies and fastened together without the use of pillars to produce a movement-structure ofgreat rigidity.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

JAMES R. PUTNAM. 

